Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-07-08

BIG MASS MEETING ON TIE FOURTH AT
CHARL oTTEsvILLE-sP EECHEs BY
PROMINENT AGR1CULTURIsTs-Ex
TRACTS FROM THE SPEECHES.
At Charlottesville on last Monday the
farmers had great meeting to consider
the agricultural situation. The atten-.
dance was large and great interest and
spirit were manifested.
Speeches were made by Col. Robert
Beverly, President Of the State Farmers
Assembly; Mr.. J. F. Slaughter, of Lynch
burg; Col. Randolph Harrison, State Com
missioner Of Agriculture, and Mr.. Chas.
GTattan, Of Augusta.
Mr.. Slaughter was the first speaker. He
said the farms year by year are getting less
valuable, our young men are leaving to seek
homes elsewhere. A great fight was to be
fought against the railroads, and there must
be united effort and organization, yet the
farmer could not be enlisted and aroused in
his own behalf. The railroads have been
purchased by foreign capital and are being
run to make money. These men have been
watering their stock, pocketing the money
made and piling up the debt.
Mr.. W. G. Myrick offered resolution that
any farmer having information of any discrm-
nation should forward it to the r. r. Com
missioner, or to Mr.. Grattan of Augusta.
Col. Robert Beverley next spoke. He said
we must be up and doing or we are serfs. AS
President of the Farmers Congress of the Uni
ted States, and of the Farmers Assembly of
Virginia. he had studied the wants of the
farmers and he knew that they had many
grievances. We are suffering from mallegis-
lation and not from want of good crops.
Mr.. Grattan says the "Jefersonian, !" follow
ed in most powerful and eloquent speech The
speaker after paying handsome tribute to
Mr.. Jefferson said that this was an appropriate
place to pass the declaration of the farmers
independence, and the 4th of July very pro-
pitious time.
While the speaker had better wheat to-day
than in former years, he was yet becoming q
pauper. One reason is the markets of the
world are shut out to US. There was philoso-
ply in Greeley's remark when he said $50
West young man." suggestion our yonng
men have largely followed. By going West
they get East. Legislation has placed you
beyond the Rocky Mountains. The Western
lands cost much less than ours and it costs so
much less to get to market.
Gov. Wilson of ". Va, has prominently
set forth the practical results of the discrimi-
nation of which we complain. He shows that
the cost of freight transportation from ST.
Louis to the seaboard is cents per 100 lbs,
whilst the cost from Hinton to the same .des-
tination-one-t third the distance-is 20 cents
on the hundred. The cost of transporting a
bushel of wheat from St. Louis is cents:
from Hinton 121 cents For load of cattle
from st. Louis $685. from Hinton $50. Hay
from st. Louis 1872: from Hinton $50. The
same relative discrimination as to the other
| farm products.
Col, Harrison followed, urging organization
and the forming of clubs by the farmers.
Messrs. Parish, J. G. Field, Fl. N. Magru-
der, and H. Weitmore, were elected delegates
!, to attend the State Convention, which will
meet at Richmond in December.
Hon. John E. Massey said he had been an
interested spectator and was in sympathy
with the objects of the meeting. He thought
it wrong to elect men to the legislature for
one purpose only, when SO many important
measures were to be dealt with
Mr.. W. Gordon Myrick, was a man of one
idea; without concentration and determine
ton to unite on single purpose, subordina-
| ting all other issues to it, no good would
be accomplished.
Secretary Clarke concurred with Mr. Myrick
and supplemented his arguments in forci-
BILE manner.
J. W. Porter and other gentlemen made
brief remarks.
Col. Duke was elected President of the AL
bemarle Assembly, and Mr.. G. W. Clarke,
Secretary.